Franz Beckenbauer, known as the “God of Ball-playing” center-backs, has passed away. He represented Germany and Bayern Munich, a club where he made 427 appearances and scored 60 goals in that revolutionized center-back role, which changed the landscape of football forever.
Many fans and people from the football fraternity poured their love and paid tribute to the German legend, as he breathed his last on Sunday.
We mourn the loss of a legend of world football.
Rest in peace, Franz Beckenbauer. pic.twitter.com/XIzYCI7VwG
— DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga (@DFL_Official) January 8, 2024
The German legend’s health had been deteriorating steadily as the last eight years had been a grueling period in his life since his son passed away in 2015. He underwent multiple heart surgeries and had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease in the latter stage of his life.
The legendary center-back played 103 international games for Germany and won the Prestigious European Cup three times in his illustrious career.
Beckenbauer won the FIFA World Cup twice and became champion, both as a player in 1974 and as a manager in 1990. He is one of the three players who won the World Cup as player and manager, alongside, French manager Didier Deschamps and Brazilian great Mario Zagallo.
Franz Beckenbauer as a player:
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 Bundesliga
🏆🏆🏆🏆 DFB-Pokal
🏆🏆🏆 European Cup
🏆 European Championship
🏆 FIFA World Cup
🏆 Cup Winners’ Cup
🏆 Intercontinental Cup
🏆🏆🏆 North American Soccer League
🏆🏆 Ballon d’Or
🏆🏆🏆🏆German Footballer of the YearFranz… pic.twitter.com/AXJjXrcF6f
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) January 8, 2024
Franz Beckenbauer was raised in the post-war ruins of Munich supporting 1860 Munich.
After an 1860 forward slapped him in an under-14 game though, Beckenbauer joined Bayern instead.
He went on to transform Bayern from the second best team in Munich to the best in all of Europe. pic.twitter.com/wvkaVk3Oa4
— Alfie | HITC Sevens (@HITCSevens) January 8, 2024
He has won the coveted Bundesliga title four times and also has four DFB Pokal domestic German cups to his name during his career.
Germany’s icon was known as ‘Der Kaiser’ which translates as ‘The Emperor’ and is regarded as one of the greatest footballers in living memory.
